May 5, 2012

Rappahannock River, Fredericksburg, VA –We had a fish filled trip to the Rappahannock River as the guests of the Falmouth Flats Fly Fishers (FFFF). We met at Amy’s Café, just below the Rt. 17 Bridge at Falmouth Flats, at 8 a.m.  The FFFF bought breakfast for all the veterans and the boxes of shad flies given to us by Dave Folkerts were distributed to each of the veterans. After breakfast, our 8 veterans paired off with a member of the FFFF and went fishing for shad and striped bass.

Most of the fish caught during the day were striped bass which follow the shad upriver. A few shad were caught but the striped bass were hitting throughout the day.  Veterans attending represented the Fort Belvoir Program and the McGuire VA Program. Chris Frost, from the Walter Reed Program, joined us but didn’t feel well and went home before breakfast.

Fishing lasted from 9 am until 3 pm. By then some veterans had caught close to 20 striped bass. The Chartreuse Clouser Minnow was the hot fly. Only one veteran did not catch a fish and it was his first time fly fishing. Before he went on the water, PHW-Quantico Volunteer, Joe Dennison, worked with him on fly casting.

Veterans attending:

Clem Danish (with his dad)
Mike Rodriguez
Maria Moreno
Dave Conklin – McGuire VA
John Paramore – McGuire VA
Tom Donohue
Glenn Stiemers
Zac Taylor
Chris Frost (briefly) with his wife, Catherine

PHW Volunteers:
Marty Laksbergs
Joe Dennison
Rob Odom – McGuire VA
Bob Gartner
The Falmouth Flats Fly Fishers had at least a dozen volunteers attend. This is the 3^rd time in the past 3 years that the Ft. Belvoir Program has been the guest of the FFFF. They do a great job of hosting the soldiers and are very generous with their time and expertise of the local waters. Without the FFFF members as guides, we would have been flailing the water and wouldn’t have caught as many fish. We hope to do more outings with them.

On May 2, 2012 St. Louis Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF) volunteers, along with six hospital staff. 33 hospital and four out patient vets had a great fishing day.  Rich Pellitier showed his talent as the best chef. Hamburgers and ball park hot dogs hit the spot. The weather was as good as the fishing was great. Many of the vets when not fishing enjoyed the trout runs and some made a tour of the local caves in the area. All said the day was a good day for all. Tom and Lisa the managers at Westover Farms Trout Farm treated us as though we were family. Everyone had a great day.

St. Louis Program Lead Clinton Carpenter

April 12th to 15th

Italy, Texas–What a great trip for six of our heroes. Rusty Rose, owner of Reyrosa Ranch, gave our soldiers some fun times and lifetime memories. SFC David Molino, SPC Mark Hartley, SGT Gene Hubert, SGT Eric Lusebrink, SGT Marcus Foreman, and SFC Jonathan Carlin (retired) were treated to some of the best fishing and food that they  could have asked for. Rusty has 3 largelLakes that are full of bass that furnished plenty of entertainment for our soldiers.
Wildlife viewing was also at the top of the list of things to do. From going out to look at deer and hogs, to checking out nesting wood ducks. Rusty and his friend John Schoellkopf brought a group of there friends to help the soldiers with what ever they needed.  Mike and Laura Geary, Bill Lamont, Bob Wright,  Buzz Crutcher,  Neal Velvin, Jim Chambers, and Jennie Emanuelson showed up to fish with the soldiers. This was a grand bunch to work with.

Jennie worked her magic in the kitchen. The meals were exceptional. For four days the soldiers were able to do as they wished, but mostly they were trying to keep up with Rusty, on their way to go do something totally different, from what was done a few hours ago. It was just an exceptional group of soldiers with an equally exceptional group of helpers.

One of the highlights was a visit from Rick Pope and Jim Shulin of Temple Fork Outfitters. During this visit Rick handed out a PHW 8-wt fly rod to all the PHWFF participants. Rick was unable to hang around long, but those rods were put to the test, on this trip. Many thanks go out to all who help put this event on. Without the many planning hours and hard work, trips like this can not happen. All of you are to be commended and thank you so much for your support; and as always, Thank God for our heroes.

Bill Adams
PHWFF Coordinator/Fort Hood, Tx
254 386 6170

April, 2012—After cancelling this trip once because of torrential rains, eight disabled veterans from the Long Beach PHWFF program fished the West Fork of the San Gabriel River on an absolutely perfect weather day.   This location is an hour away from the VA hospital and makes for a great day trip.  Although the river is small, as are the trout, it flows through a beautiful forested canyon, replete with wildlife and native trout, almost as though it is a Hollywood set.

Two volunteers from the Forest Service escorted us in beyond a locked gate, from which we dispersed to four handicapped ramps.  Some of the vets fished from these accessible casting platforms, while others walked up or downstream for water that sees less pressure.  Because of the overhanging vegetation, it’s a good environment for teaching the importance of roll casts.   Of the eight vets, three were fishing for the first time.  It’s fun to watch the excitement of those first fish, even little five-inches.  Everyone caught fish so it was a very good day.

We met for lunch at a picnic area the top of the hill to share tall tales, and then drove home.   We’re looking forward to our May trip to Bishop in the Sierras where the fish will be substantially larger.

April 14, 2012

Thurmont, MD–PHWFF wounded soldiers and disabled veterans from the National Capital Region, which included participants from Walter Reed, Ft. Belvoir and DC area, had a great fly fishing outing at Little Owens Creek at Otter Fish Camp near Thurmont, MD Saturday April 14.  Members of the Potomac Valley Fly Fishers (PVFF) (http://www.pvflyfish.org/) hosted us at this outing and provided lunch for everyone.

The weather was excellent and the fishing proved to be excellent also!  All kinds of trout were caught and many happy smiles occurred. The volunteer guides from PVFF provided tremendous support and expertise on how to fish the creek.

We look forward to our next outing in the fall once again at the same location hosted by PVFF!

David Folkerts

National Capital Region

23 March 2012

Texas—Below is the guest post by Brandon Robinson (OneBugIsFake) and summary of the two-day fish-a-palooza down in Texas country that he organizes, runs, and somehow finds time to fish during.  It’s no joke, and based on the sheer amount of work any event takes to plan and get of the ground–it’s worth hearing about.

It’s also worth fishing at: tons of awesome sponsors, great fishers, and one hell of a setting.  I came very close to being close to Austin the weekend of #FlyStock and would have dropped by; destiny had other plans and I don’t think I even fished that weekend at home.  Either way, it looked like a great weekend that was full of challenges waiting to be overcome…most of them happened to be amazing native species with gills and fins.  On with the fun….

Foreword: I like fishing with people.  There are times where I want to be on the lonesome side of the river, however by and large, I enjoy company.  I learn things that way, discover different methods, find new scripture for my church, and revel in the camaraderie.  I am on the home stretch of my 3rd year, making this the longest singular activity I have ever perused.  Along the way I have virtually met a bevy of accomplished anglers, and have fished with a smaller number of those.  Here in my part of the water I am lucky to know (and fish with): a talented artist Shawn Bichsel, the owner of the oldest fly fishing blog (Dean Burris) in the United States, David Ellzey, Thomas Flemmons, and Nathan Brown.  Online, the number increases exponentially.  #FlyStock was born out of that.  It morphed into a fishing trip before finally shedding the husk and taking flight as a fundraiser.

I took it serious; putting things together to pull it off.  One critical component was lost in shipping, and we got someone else’s delivery.  At the apex of dealing with that, all hell broke loose.  Texas was expecting a spring rain that never came, and instead received a record-breaking heat wave.  That one-two punch set Texas up for the haymaker — fires.  Attempting a three day event in the tinderbox that was the Hill Country would have certainly been disastrous.   The event was postponed, and confusion set in that the event was cancelled.  Suddenly the support I had for the event dried up like the rivers last summer, minus these exceptions; Diablo Paddle Sports, Long’s Fish Camp, and Living Waters Fly Fishing.

Still I pushed on, determined to see this through.  Sponsors pulled out, coordinators evaporated, but I was not going to be denied to see it through.  I still had a venue after all, and I still had a celebrity coming in to attend the event.  It had to happen.

Less than a week before #FlyStock a storm blew through, flooding the Hill Country.  I had to smile a bit at the irony.  “From drought to blow-out”, I thought.  I was sweating though.  The Llano is a moody river, and all the fish in it feed off that energy.  Muddy and high water makes Llano fishing impossible; 75% of it is sight fishing.  The remaining quarter requires you to at least see what structure there is.  Truly blind casting yields no fruit, and bitter anglers.  Somewhere in the beginning of the week, I called my Mom; thus activating my prayer circle.  Both silently and audibly I prayed for fishable water and I asked them to pray for the same.  I reasoned that a scattergun blast of prayer would be effective, but without a choke the shot would go everywhere.  I didn’t want to pray for a whole bunch of things while aiming at the event; I wanted to concentrate on one area.  The singular target of the 12 gauge prayer was fishable waters.  I checked river flows twice an hour, all the way up to the event.  I crossed fingers, stayed away from black cats, and sacrificed a goat.  I was stressed out and it was starting to show.

I worked on other things, like collecting the items for the silent auction.  I tweaked the website too, changing it daily as bands and vendors signed on and subsequently dropped off.  My stress was at an all-time high, and that was before I dropped my phone in the drink.  The night before the event started.  At work.  I retrieved the phone from its shallow grave, trying desperately to remove the battery without hitting buttons.  Not yet accomplishing the purpose that drove me to this scenario only made it harder to concentrate.  As the screen stared flickering, I knew I had failed.  No phone and an event less than 12 hours out.  To top it off, the first day of the event was the class final at work, and another instructor was covering my class.  I told him to call me if he needed anything.  The next day at the sprint store, I was told that they no longer handle liquid damage in the store. Shows you how long it has been since I discovered the rice trick.  I had to find a phone, (or buy one outright) and break speed limit laws in several counties to get back on track.  Sparing the grittier details and off color language I eventually was able to pop smoke – four hours late. The stress melted away as I pulled into Long’s Fish Camp and saw the water.  The color was that of sun tea, and getting clearer by the hour.  Thomas and Megan [Diablo Paddle Sports] pulled up a little bit later and we all took about 30 minutes to relax before unloading the groceries they provided.  #FlyStock was here, and it was going to be a good time.

The band for Friday afternoon showed up, picked a section of riverfront, and starting setting up.  They were called Southern Underground, (check them out on Facebook) and they were as excited to be a part of the first annual event as we were to have them. After the sound check, they started cranking out Texas Country hits from; Ray Wylie Hubbard, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Stoney LaRue, and even ‘Amos Moses’ by Jerry Reed.  These guys have excellent raw talent, and I hope to get them back next year.  With superb music cranking out and flooding the entire riparian corridor, I had to go fish (and sing along).

The sun set and my biggest logistical oversight presented itself.  We had no lights!  Tom Ben Lindley was next up, and he played a 30 minute set in the dark before Southern Underground went back up.  Tom was appalled at the conditions apparently, and decided to not come back the next night.  Southern Underground, however was not easily deterred and played another spectacular set before smoking their amp.  Check these guys out: they are hard chargers and truly just love to play for anyone that will listen.

The next day, the crew at Long’s came out early and picked up trash.  Vendors started showing up and people came ready to fish.  First out was David Ellzey, his daughter Jaz, and Shawn Bichsel.  Shawn I saw a couple of times, the Texas River Bum crew I didn’t see again until the day was over.  You can see how they did here in a detailed fishing report.  I spent most of my time getting video footage of the event and shaking hands.  We had a good turnout for a first year event, and plenty of fish were caught.  Nicole Darland came out and spent a lot of time mingling and fishing with attendees.  She also landed a new species for her “creel” — a very pretty Guadalupe Bass.  Living Waters Fly Fishing came out, set up a booth, and started fishing.  They also offered tying demos and hands on advice for anglers of all speeds.  Local guide/published author/celebrity Kevin Hutchison set up a booth as well, and tied up several flies.  He answered questions, and doled advice to any that asked.  To my knowledge, no one that came out to fish was skunked!  That night, Michael O’Connor played a stunning acoustic set, despite the bugs flying around the lights.  He was received very well, selling CD after CD as proof.  Good times were had by all who attended.

Sunday, two people came out: Jim Gray and Jeff Hoelter.  Jim is the “Carp King” of central Texas, and Jeff is one of the most talented fly tiers I know.  They manned the brick and mortar Living Waters Fly Shop while the owner and staff (and Emily) came out to support FlyStock the day before.  It was a rare privilege to fish with both of them and learn how they pick apart the Llano.  Jeff had a good day, I didn’t get skunked, and Jim walked away the hero of the day nabbing close to thirty fish in four hours.  After all that, they lent a hand with the final clean-up and Jim treated us to Cooper’s Bar-B-Q in Llano (a first for me, and super delicious.  Try the cobbler).

So 1425 words later, it is my pleasure to present you with what is possibly my finest video yet.  The first and last songs in the video belong to Michael O’Connor and were featured at FlyStock.  The middle song, well it is possibly my favorite song, and seemed very fitting.  It is performed by Matt King, and it is called ‘Shanty Town’. All three songs are available to purchase on iTunes and their respective websites.  I also outright stole an editing cue from Yukon Goes Fishing for this montage. Remember Ivan, imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.  Lastly, I want to thank Long’s Fish Camp.  They have roughly three thousand acres of beautiful riverfront property that you can access for pocket change.  They have been supportive of the event on the grandest scale, and you should make the trip to come see them.  See them, and fish the waters of FlyStock.  Tell them you heard about them from FlyStock so I can score some brownie points too, if you don’t mind.  See you downstream, and out next year for #FlyStock 2013!

For more information, including photos and video visit One Bug Is Fake, at http://onebugisfake.com/2012/04/carp-corn-chips-double-hauls/ and http://vimeo.com/39564673.

April 6, 2012

Posted: 2012 Apr 06 on MyHometownNews.net, local online news for Volusia County, Florida.

By Dan Harkins

DELEON SPRINGS , FL- Joe Rahl doesn’t want to get into the traumatic experiences he witnessed while serving on shore duty in the U.S. Navy during the 1983 Beirut barracks attack.

During a recent balmy morning visit to DeLeon Springs State Park, he just wanted to fly fish.

Mr. Rahl was among more than a dozen disabled veterans who spent the day learning to tie ornate flies under a pavilion at the park, then cast them properly into Spring arden Run under the watchful eye of instructor Lars Lutton of Edgewater.

They’re part of the Veterans Administration’s Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center in Daytona Beach, which just started partnering in January with the Mid-Coast Fly Fishers Club for regular training and outings. Called Project Healing Waters, the program currently has about 100 chapters across the country.

“It’s so meditative,” said Mr. Rahl, 54, of Holly Hill, while trying to land his hook just beyond where some bubbles popped to the surface. “Things may be going downhill in our country or in the world, but when you can have just a few hours of absolute peace, it’s really refreshing.”

Fly fishing entails a different approach to angling that many say can help take the mind off of persistent anxiety. Though fly hooks can be purchased, many tie their own to suit the type of fish that are biting right then and there.

The flies are then coaxed out into place on the water with subtle whips of a long pole. The goal: make a fish think the fly is live bait.

“All fishing is a challenge,” said one of Mid-Coast’s trainers, Bill Bessette, “but this is more of a challenge.”

Joe Stark, 52, of Daytona Beach, has a different word to describe it.

“It’s tedious,” he joked, just before trying to tie off another standard rig, called a Clouser minnow. “That’s my overall feeling.”

Mr. Stark was in the Navy just three years before falling from the top deck in his ship’s engine room to the metal floor below. He now has a seizure disorder and problems with motor skills.

That hasn’t stopped him, though, from wanting to learn as much about life as he can.

“I’m no different than anyone else,” he said. “I’m always looking for new things.”

Steve Kyer, director of the VA’s rehab and recovery program, said many of his charges have chronic pain or mental disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder that make it hard to face the day.

“Things like this get them back into the community and involved in life,” he said. “With what they’ve been through, a lot of people would just stay home, isolated, and they’re out here doing things.”

As some instructors helped veterans tie fly hooks in the shade, Dan Harmon was out in the sun, teaching others how to set aside their reel-casting ways in favor of a fly fishing pole. He’s been teaching fly fishing for 36 years, and he can’t think of anyone who could use this type of therapy more.

“We’re doing this to help veterans,” he said. “They’re in the healing process and this heals. You want to do something with your hands, your minds, and maybe you can forget a little.”

One fisherman, Matt McNerney, 38, of New Smyrna Beach, is a member of both groups. A fly fisherman of 13 years who makes his own poles and flies, he’s also a disabled veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, who injured his knee and back during service in the late 1990s.

“It’s definitely relaxing,” he said of his favorite pastime. “The pain is still there, but I’m not paying as much attention to it. Whether your problems are physical or emotional, it’s going to take your mind away from that and put a focus somewhere else. It’s temporary relief.”

In the meantime, he said, a “more intimate type of fishing” is being learned.

“It’s really you and the fish,” Mr. McNerney said. “It’s more focused. It’s not a lot of running around, soaking bait and just cast after cast after cast. You’re looking for a sign of a fish and trying to present a fly to the fish in a way that’s going to look natural.”

Even if nothing gets caught, said Navy vet Joe Rahl, it’s still therapeutic.

“Getting fish is secondary,” he said. “It’s nice, but it’s not the reason I’m out here.”

For more information, call (386) 405-3800.

March 25, 2012

Syria, VA–Project Healing Waters’ annual Ice Breaker event was a rousing success.  Overcast skies and morning drizzle gave way to sunshine and spring color in the afternoon. Neither weather condition seemed to make a difference to the trout at Rose River Farm in Syria, Virginia, however, as they chased streamers and nymphs in the morning and dries in the afternoon.

“It is always great to get the spring Project Healing Waters’ fishing season started with the ‘Ice Breaker,’ said Douglas Dear, owner of Rose River Farm. “It was a nice change of pace to have 70 degree temps instead of 40′s.  Everyone caught fish.”

Participants in this National Capital Region event included five from Walter Reed Army Medical Center, five from Fort Meade, Maryland’s WTU, and one from Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

Lady warriors stole the spotlight this year with some new female fly anglers making their mark.  Newcomers started the day off at the bass ponds perfecting their casts and line control.  While many of the fly fishing veterans headed straight for the trout stream, Maria Moreno from Fort Belvoir and volunteer Pati Nicholson hung in with the newcomers at the bass ponds.   Among the new anglers were MAJ Valerie Takesue and SPC Chernell “Giz” Bonville.  Both caught their first trout on the Rose River.

Even some very young ladies, the daughters of PHW participant Travis Green from Walter Reed, were able to get into the action with SFC Walter Morse.

Volunteer guides worked with both ladies until their fly presentations were smooth and graceful.  The bluegills were cooperative and proved to be worthy training partners.
“She’s now been initiated with fish slime!” guide Kiki Galvin exclaimed as Bonville landed her first fish on the small pond before breaking for lunch.

“The Ice Breaker is the first of many opportunities the vets will have offered to them in the days to come,” noted Galvin. “It gives them a chance to practice their cast, formulate their choice of flies and their strategic plan to hook them and bring them to the hand. The rain did not dampen the enthusiasm of any who participated and the fish cooperated in the ponds as well as on the river,” she added.

Several local American Legion posts from the Charlottesville and Madison, Virginia area pooled their skills to keep everyone fed.  Brats with kraut and hot dogs were  prepared by Ray Miller from Post 74.  “Bigjohn” Miska from Post 85 challenged everyone to try his kinder, gentler Napalm Chili (not the version he’s best known for, which more than lives up to its name). Just about everyone accepted his challenge, either by the bowl or on the dog. Drinks and dessert cakes were supplied by Gerry Stephenson, Joe Dudley and Eric Stevens of Post 157.  Everyone enjoyed the food and went back for seconds.

Miska brought more than his crew and lunch, the bamboo fly rod effort he oversees expanded at this year’s Ice Breaker as four new vets were awarded restored bamboo rods. Rod restorations were done by Joe Pacacha of Pennsylvania and Chris Bogart of Shenandoah Rods.  Miska, a disabled vet himself, started the program when he noticed that the slower action of the bamboo rods made learning to fly cast easier for many PHWFF participants.

After lunch the clouds parted and the ladies headed to the trout stream to test out their new skills.

“The dry fly action was superb and fish were actually leaping out of the water as if to say catch me if you can!” said Galvin.  She added that a slight head cold seemed to work in Bonville’s favor, “we were using stimulators and Giz would cast then sneeze and the sneeze wiggled her rod just enough and the fish would start slamming her fly.”

So busy with trout action, neither Bonville or Takesue made it off the stream to be a part of the group photo – you can see Takesue and her guide on the stream in the
background.

Based on stories eagerly shared throughout the day, as an overall average, for every trout brought to hand there were about five that slipped the hook; making for a
day full of bent rods and fish action.

“It is always a thrill and a privilege to be standing stream side as a vet brings a beauty like the one Giz did to the net,” added Galvin.

“Many thanks to Douglas Dear, owner of Rose River Farm, for his continual support of PHWFF and our fly fishing outings on his amazing property,” noted David Folkerts,
Plans and Operations Manager for PHWFF and National Capital Regional Coordinator.  “The Rose River Farm is definitely deserving of its recognition as PHWFF’s home waters.”

The Rose River Farm will play host to Project Healing Water’s annual 2-Fly Tournament on April 29, 2012.

Project Healing Waters Bamboo is planning another Fall Classic to be held this fall on the Rose River. For more information on the Fall Classic or the bamboo rod effort, contact John Miska at Bigjohn@cstone.net for further information.

March 17 & 18, 2012

Hazelwood, MO — The Cabalas event was their spring fishing event held each year. We were asked to set up and tie pins to pass out and give a presentation on fly tying 101. This outing gave us a great opportunity to hand out Project Healing Waters material explaining the program. There was a laptop set up showing pictures of our past tying sessions and fishing outings. This was a great opportunity to talk to many people and explain our program at Jefferson Barracks VAMC. Eight volunteers and two of the vets in our program attended both days.

The event did more than introduce people to fly fishing and Project Healing Waters, it was the catalyst for a reunion of one of the participants and a long-lost friend.

I’ve got to tell you, that Sunday I tied flies at Cabela’s with Don Aird has turned out to be the start of one of the best times of my life. Our conversation  while sitting there tying led to my reunion with a childhood buddy of mine and the best man at my wedding, Bill Harding,  that I had not seen or been able to locate in approximately 40 years. What a time we are having playing catch-up!  We have it set that we are turkey hunting together on opening day. I truly regret all of our lost years together. Just had to let  you know how the PHWFF has paid off again in healing vets in many ways. ~~ Ken House, Dav from Jefferson Barracks VAMC

March 18-25, 2012

Grayling, MI–The long Northern Michigan winter took a short break for six of our wounded warriors during the week of March 18th through March 25th, 2012, as they headed to Grayling, MI for a weeklong bamboo fly rod making course. The six soldiers were all from Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF) programs in Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Maine. The trip was arranged and sponsored by PHWFF volunteer Jim Ottevaere. The course took place at the Bamboo Bend Workshop in Grayling, Michigan. (Pictured: wounded warriors, Doug Rink, NC, Jeremiah Honaker, TN, Dustin, Fleenor, VA, Henry Lessard, ME, George Draper, ME, Ryan Carr, GA)

During the week, under the guidance of master bamboo rod makers, each soldier handcrafted and completed his own bamboo fly rod. The Bamboo Bend Workshop is owned by Grayling resident Victor Edwards who donated his shop, home and equipment for the week, as well as coordinating the many details of the program. The four instructors, led by Dennis Higham are all nationally recognized bamboo rod makers. They donated their time, rod building materials and resources for the course and presented each soldier with a metal rod tube and cloth bag for the rods. (Instructors, Dennis Higham, Mike Biando, Ron Barge, Peter Jones)

AuSable Riverboat builder, Billy Lowe and a number of local guides and fly tiers stopped by the Workshop to share their experiences and demonstrate their skills. Master fly tier, and guide Jerry Regan presented each soldier with a selection of his best known flies. The Mason/Griffith Charter Chapter of Trout Unlimited presented each soldier with a matching Hardy fly reel, with backing and fly line. Lou Burhart a local craftsman presented a custom made wood fly box to each warrior. Cheryl Stephan, a noted local artist presented each soldier with a package of note cards based on her artwork. Wayne Koppa and the Grayling Rotary Club provided dinners each evening. Breakfasts and lunches were provided by the sponsor, who also provided lodging for the soldiers at the famous Old AuSable Fly Shop on the river in downtown Grayling. This location has been a sport fishing camp and a canoe livery since the mid-nineteenth century. Old AuSable fly Shop owner, Jeff Gardner presented each soldier with a selection of fly fishing accessories.

On Saturday the soldiers were treated to an all day float fishing trip on the famous “Holy Waters” of the AuSable River. The guides provided their own boats, the historic wooden AuSable Riverboat, which has been a constant presence on the river since the 1870s. The guides, among the best professional guides on the river donated their time and skill for the day. Despite the early season, a number of Brown Trout and Brook Trout were caught and released by the warriors. (Info: Guides Jerry Regan, Jeff McGowan, John Bayerl, Kevin Latham, Justin Dilts, Mark Rias)

Program sponsor, Jim Ottevaere, said that everyone in the Grayling community opened their hearts and shared their resources to support this project and to make it a success. “We are already planning to do this again next year”, he said. One of the wounded warriors reported that, “This was an experience of a lifetime, thank you, Project Healing Waters. Thank you, Grayling”